by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

Supercross champion Trey Canard, who chronicles his lengthy rehabilitation from a spine injury in the new documentary REvival 41, is set to return to the big stage.

Canard, 22, suffered the severe back injury one year ago in competition. On Saturday, three days after the premiere of his film, he competes in Supercross Anaheim.

"The whole year has given me a completely different perspective," says Canard. "In the past I would have probably been really nervous and anxious. Now I am just really grateful to have this opportunity to really go out there and just do it, especially after watching the movie the other night. It's an excitement I haven't felt before."

On Jan. 21, 2012, Canard was competing at Dodger Stadium when a spill left an opposing racer's bike on his head and back.

"It was a scary pain. With other serious injuries like a broken femur it hurts a lot, but it's not a serious life threatening injury," says Canard. "But with a spinal injury you never know what the pain really means. It was pretty terrifying."

REvival 41 follows Canard throughout his recovery process including doctors' appointments, surgeries and physical therapy. There was one immediate and successful back surgery two days after the accident to repair three broken vertebrae on the spine and remove the pressure off the spinal cord.

Other surgeries sought to remove the metal parts from past injuries.

"I had broken my femur and collarbone and wrist, so I had metal in there from those. I took all the stuff out of there that I could," says Canard. "It was like Ace Hardware in there."

Seven months after his back surgery, Canard was back on his bike. On Saturday he'll ride with for the Muscle Milk Honda team.

"I'm not pushing limits that I shouldn't," says Canard. "I feel we have taken our time. We've followed this recovery by the book."

And as he makes clear in the documentary, the injury has been a blessing in disguise. So much so that Canard doesn't fear re-injury.

"There has been so much good to come out of this injury I cannot look at it as a negative," he says. "I appreciate everything it taught me. And that gives me a lot of peace about going out there on Saturday and doing my best."